Pole Creek dam
Pole Creek
Pole Creek, located in Brogan, Oregon, is a privately owned irrigation dam constructed in 1944 with a primary purpose of providing water for agricultural use. The dam stands at a height of 58 feet and has a storage capacity of 2200 acre-feet, serving as a vital resource for the surrounding area. Despite its significant contribution to irrigation needs, Pole Creek Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and is currently in poor condition, as reported in the latest assessment in September 2021.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department, Pole Creek Dam is regulated and inspected by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. The dam spans 480 feet in length and impounds Pole and Blacks Creek, covering a surface area of 160 acres. With a drainage area of 1.1 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, although its deteriorating condition raises concerns about potential risks and the need for maintenance and improvements.
Given its age and condition, Pole Creek Dam presents challenges in terms of safety and reliability, prompting the need for ongoing monitoring and potential rehabilitation efforts. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, stakeholders must address the dam's deficiencies to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure the continued availability of water for irrigation purposes. With its historical significance and functional role in water management, Pole Creek Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Pole Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Malheur River Below Nevada Dam Near Vale Or | 23 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Weiser Id | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Payette River Nr Payette Id | 5,040 cfs | → |
| North Fork Malheur River At Beulah Or | 1 cfs | → |
| Crane Creek At Mouth Nr Weiser Id | 2 cfs | → |
| Snake River At Nyssa Or | 7,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pole Creek.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Bully Creek Reservoir County Park
- Spring
- Spring Recreation Site
- Steck Park
- Oasis
- Catfish Junction Rv Park
Paddle runs
Track Pole Creek in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Pole Creek
Where does the data for Pole Creek come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Pole Creek.